Sport

Lee Evans in line for Wales under-21s start

NEWPORT’S Lee Evans is set to feature for Wales under-21s against England in tonight’s Euro 2015 qualifier in Swansea, writes Andrew Penman.

The former Newport County AFC midfielder could start the match after Manchester United youngster Tom Lawrence pulled out of the squad with an injury.

The 20-year-old picked up a knock in United's Under-21 Premier League final defeat to Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The Wrexham-born player recently made his senior United debut in the 3-1 win over Hull City.

Lawrence has been replaced in the squad by Swansea City’s James Loveridge while Scott Tancock has been replaced by Swans teammate Danny Alfei.

Geraint Williams' side host Gareth Southgate's England at Swansea's Liberty Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm) in their final home game of the campaign with away matches in September away to Finland and Lithuania to complete the group.

Wales, who lost 1-0 to group leaders England at Derby in March, are currently third – nine points behind England and three behind second-placed Moldova.

England’s Wilfried Zaha will also miss the game after being withdrawn from Gareth Southgate’s squad.

The Manchester United winger didn’t reported for duty at St. George’s Park after ending the campaign on loan at Cardiff City with a niggling injury.

Zaha was one of four players in the squad only due to feature in the Wales game, along with Tom Ince, Danny Ings and Jesse Lingard, who are all too old to feature in the Toulon Tournament in France this week.

And it was decided that it was best for the 21-year-old to rest his injury in order to make a full recovery for next season.

“Wilf has been carrying something and we decided that it was probably best not to aggravate it,” revealed head coach Southgate, who had an initial 25 man squad in place for the Wales game before a squad of 20 head out to Toulon after that.

“We would have only had four days with him [Zaha], whereas with the others we get two weeks, which is a great extended period to work with them.

“He would have only been available for the one game anyway, so over the five games, we’ve got Nathan [Redmond] who’s been playing really well and Tom Ince, who were the two wingers who started the last game.”

Southgate's squad will fly to France tomorrow to prepare for the Toulon Tournament, which runs from May 21 to June 1.